Accounting at Saint Mary's College of California

Saint Mary's accounting graduates start at $66,628—about $4,000 above California's median for the program and a solid 24% above the national median. Four years out, earnings jump to over $91,000, suggesting strong career trajectory despite the program's modest selectivity. The $25,000 median debt creates a comfortable 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than five months of their first-year salary.

The catch? This data comes from a small sample of under 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary considerably from these medians. Within California, this program sits squarely in the middle—performing well above schools like CSU Stanislaus ($57,000) but trailing the Bay Area elite like Santa Clara ($78,000) and USF ($73,000) by $10-15,000. For families considering the private school premium, Saint Mary's delivers respectable but not exceptional results compared to its nearby competitors.

The 37% earnings growth from year one to year four indicates graduates are advancing in their careers, likely passing the CPA exam and moving into senior roles. At this debt level and with these starting salaries, most graduates should manage loan payments comfortably while building toward six-figure earnings. Just remember the small sample caveat—with fewer than 30 data points, one exceptional outcome (or struggle) could skew the picture significantly.